Mundicide boast that cutting guitar tone particular to 90s black metal, but differs slightly from its influences through production which has a surprising clarity. Different instrumental sounds are picked out well, but the space between is still appropriately packed with distortion and blackened intensity. It feels like the music was recorded relatively cleanly but then a shroud of distortion was draped over post-recording. Eternity are best when levering this intensity. The introduction to “Journey Towards the Darkside” and the middle passage on “Under the Gaze of the King” feel especially heavy and through sheer force of will they are a little more engaging. Beyond this, Mundicide offers a predictable exhibit of black metal, with very few frills, bells and/or whistles. The exceptions to prove the rule can be heard on “Hymn” and “Gunmetal Sky.” The former features choral chants and an organ to thicken its verses while the latter picks up the tempo towards speed metal territory. But even these don’t unreservedly succeed, as the organ on “Hymn” is buried in the mix and is only exposed upon the cessation of the metal instruments at the song’s end, while the leads on “Gunmetal Sky” aren’t remotely as sharp or entertaining as the style’s Venomous influences.
Sadly this remains a consistent characteristic throughout Mundicide. Its core leads and the variations thereof are generally too mediocre to carry the songs, which is all the worse on the lengthier run-times on “Hymn” and “The Seventh Seal.” “Journey towards the Darkside” sets an early and sub-par standard, with 3 subtly different passages across the first half of the track. None are terrible but nor are they notably melodic, emotive or powerful. As they begin to repeat in the second half the song starts to feel long, only 3 minutes into the album. It’s a song of 5:29 but with only 2:00 of ideas. There are discernible riffs and melodies but the fact they exist is all I can say because they’re mundane and unexciting. Occasional niftier licks and instrumental flourishes are too unusual to assuage my waned enthusiasm.
Releases like this make me question the purpose of ‘traditional’ black metal in 2023. Mundicide isn’t notably melodic, symphonic, dissonant or atmospheric. In fact, it’s only notable at all in a very slim way; through its derivativeness. You’ve heard releases just like this many times over – and many times better. With the meager exceptions I’ve noted above, it’s a featureless, flavorless sort of album. Maybe I would have had more sympathy for this music 25 years ago, when black metal was still relatively new. Now this iteration sounds played-out, unadventurous, and unfortunately pointless. Even on “The Seventh Seal,” intended to be a grand, 10-minute closer, things just ramble on without any dramatic development or dynamism. Other than extending their normal ideas to 10 minutes, Eternity do nothing to inject this track with more variety or adventure. The song, and consequently the album, just ends without having gone anywhere or done anything different.
The more I listened to Mundicide, the less I liked it. Worse than its derivativeness or even repetition is its lack of quality. The instrumentation is perfectly competent but the songwriting is lackluster and forgettable. It speaks volumes when I’m unable to stay focused on the album I should be dissecting with close, analytical listens. The songs are repetitive, ineffectual and, even where this isn’t actually the case, seemingly too long. My zeal is depleted after a listening session; I can’t think of why anyone should listen to Mundicide.
Rating: 1.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Soulseller Records
Website: facebook.com/eternity
Releases Worldwide: July 7th, 2023
